'˜Neighbourhood police stop organised gangs'

Detective Superintendent Linda Dawson was responding to a watchdog report that revealed Hampshire Constabulary was tracking 62 gangs.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary also found neighbourhood teams have a ‘good knowledge of the problems’ and make-up of areas.

Det Supt Dawson said: ‘Hampshire Constabulary welcomes the findings of this inspection and the recognition of all the hard work that goes on across all parts of the force to tackle serious and organised crime.

‘It is communities where the harm from serious and organised crime is most felt, and it is communities where the work to identify and dismantle organised crime groups begins.

‘Hampshire Constabulary has always sought to protect neighbourhood policing as we recognise that it’s local knowledge and community relationships that often provide us with the intelligence and information we need to disrupt these criminal gangs and prevent the violence and disorder they bring to our communities.’

She added: ‘We will continue to work to target the organised criminals who seek to operate in our communities.’